Multiple quick acting refrigerator plant and process



March 20, 1934. SCHWARZ 1,951,448

MULTIPLE QUICK ACTING REFRIGERATOR PLANT AND PROCESS Filed April 2, 19326 Sheets-Sheet l flu yusi fichwwrz,

March 20, 1934. 1,951,448

MULTIPLE QUICK ACTING REFRIGERATOR PLANT AND PROCESS A. SCHWARZ 6Sheets-Shegt 2 Filed April 2, 1932 usi Schwarz} Juana/13 Margh 20, 1934.A, sc w z 1,951,448

MULTIPLE QUICK ACTING REFRIGERATOR PLANT AND PROCESS Filed April 2, 19326 Sheets-Sheet 3 HTTUENEYS.

March 20, 1934. SCHWARZ 1,951,448

MULTIPLE QUICK ACTING REFRIGERATOR PLANT AND PROCESS Filed April 2, 1932R 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY W46, G M'M I- W .HTTUJENEKS.

March 20, 1934; A, SCHWARZ MULTIPLE QUICK ACTING REFRIGERATOR PLANT ANDPROCESS Filed April 2, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 qw NW b R mm, wk gm Q %h@ Imm Qw mm t mm 0 uhm. mm k WQQ. A5 a m. f Q @Q m @w mm a Rn RV Wk 1v m mmQ h 9w Nw\ III v I 9Q m@ 5 ll m w mw m Iv .l kw QQ 9w R m 9%. RN

[106777- @1162) flclzwarz,

Patented Mar. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES MULTIPLE QUICK ACTING REFRIGERATORPLANT AND PROCESS August Schwarz, Chicago, 111.

Application April 2, 1932, Serial No. 602,862

37 Claims.

The invention relates to multiple quick actingrefrigerator plants andprocesses, and the object of the invention is to provide a refrigeratorplant consisting of a plurality*of condensers,

a combination refrigerator and condenser, a plurality of compressors,and a double refrigerator, all these parts being connected with eachother in such a manner that they may selectively be combined to operateas a one or multiple stage other so that between said tubes arefrigerator pan or the like may be inserted, so that said pan issurrounded on all sides by refrigerator tubes, giving the device a highefiiciency and quick action.

Other objects of the invention not specifically mentioned may be easilyascertained and understoad from the following description in connectionwith the drawings forrning'a part thereof.

It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not to be limitedor restricted to the exact formation and construction shown in thedrawings and described in the specification, but that said invention isonly to be limited by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the inventionFig. 1 is a diagrammatical plan view of the refrigerator plant accordingto the invention;

Fig. 2 is a combination condenser and refrigerator unit used inconnection with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing a double refrigerator usedin connection with the present invention. v

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the plant shown in Fig. 1,and illustrating one of the uses of the plant.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating another use ofthe plant.

Fig. '7 is still another fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating theuse of a portion of the plant for condensing and cooling therefrigerant, and also cooling a refrigerating medium, for outside use.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of a portion of the plantadapted'for the same general use as that in Fig. '7.

The present invention is a modification and 1'5 icing improvement overmy copending applications Serial No. 429,176 filed Feb. 17, 1930, SerialNo. 445,390 filed April 18, 1930, and Serial No. 601,262 filed March 25,1932.

In the multiple quick acting refrigerator plant according to the presentinvention, a high pres sure condenser-or cooler 5 is provided which iscooled by fresh water entering the condenser through a pipe 6 by meansof a pump 7, and leaving the condenser through a'pipe 8. Any re- 66frigerant may be used in this high pressure condenser, and is compressedby a compressor 9 from which it enters the high pressure condenser 5throughthe pipes 37 and 9 The liquid refrigerant leaves the highpressure condenser 5 through 10 pipe 10 including a valve 59 and asecond pressure reducing valve 11, by which it is introduced into a lowpressure and low temperature condenser and liquid cooler 12. Theinterior of the low pressure and low temperature condenser and cooler 12constitutes a closed tank 12 through which extend a plurality ofcondenser or cooler tubes 21. The refrigerant is discharged by expansionvalve 11 into a header 22 from which it enters condenser tubes 21,causing the pressure and temperature of the liquid refrigerant to beconsiderably reduced because of the low temperature present in condenser12, as later explained.

If desired, both condensers, the high pressure condenser 5 and the lowpressure condenser tubes 21, may be operated at an equal pressure, thatmeans at a high pressure. In that case, more refrigerant gas must betaken in by the first condenser 5, and the expansion valve 11 betweenthe two condensers must be wide open. It is possible under theseconditions to obtain low temperatures in the condenser tubes 21 of thecombination unit 12, as if low pressure were present.

When the two units 5 and 12 are operatively' connected in series, theunit 5 is a condenser and the unit 12 is a liquid cooler if a relativelyhigh refrigerant pressure is maintained; the unit 5 is a gas cooler andthe unit 12 is a condenser if a relatively low refrigerant pressure ismaintained;

both units may be condensers at different pressures if the expansionvalve 11 is partially closed to effect a pressure reduction. The twounits 5 and 12 are therefore variously designated as condensers orcoolers depending on their use in different operative arrangements.

By condenser in the claims is meant condenser or cooler as the case maybe depending on operating conditions, for example the pressure of therefrigerant.

A second fresh water cooled condenser 13 mplied by a pump 16 through apipe 17.

ceives a compressed refrigerant through 'a pipe 37, with valves 44 and52, from a second compressor 14. This refrigerant is drawn through apipe 35, with a valve 34, off refrigerator tubes 15 which are arrangedin the combination tank 12 as illustrated, especially in Figures 2 and3. The refrigerant is recompressed by the compressor 14, and iscooled'in condenser 13 by Water sup- This cooling water is drained oilby means of a pipe 18. The liquid refrigerant from the second freshWater cooled condenser 13 flows through a pipe I 19 and an expansionvalve 26 into the refrigerator tubes 15 of the combination tank 12 wherethe refrigerant cools the refrigerant which is present in the condensertubes 21; thereby the pressure and temperature is lowered further.Interposed in the pipe 19 are three spaced valves 45, 46 and 47. .7

The combination unit 12 is provided at its four sides respectively withheader manifolds 22, 23, 24 and 25, so arranged that the condenser tubes21 connect the manifolds 22 and 23 with each other and the refrigeratortubes 15 the manifolds 24 and 25.

A double refrigerator 26, with a tank which may be closed entirely ormay be open on top, contains two sets of refrigerator tubes 2'7 and 28 5respectively. From the header manifold 23, the liquid refrigerantpresent in the tubes 21 of the combination unit 12 flows through pipes27. and 28 and expansion valves 63 and 29 into the refrigerator' tubes27 and 28 of the double refrigerator 26, where said refrigerantevaporates. From these refrigerator tubes, the refrigerant vapor isdrawn off through a pipe 36 and recompressed by the compressor 9 andthen returned through pipes '37 and 9 into the high pressure condenser5. The refrigerant vapor in the refrigerator tubes 27 in tank 26 isdrawn off through a pipe 31 and recompressed by a compressor 30 and isreturned to the high pressure condenser 5 through the pipes 32 and 9from where the refrigerant is forced through the pipe 10 into the lowpressure and low temperature condenser and cooler tubes 21 ofcombination unit 12, through pipe 27, and expansion valve 63 back intothe refrigerator pipes 27 where it is vaporized again. The tworefrigerator circuits described above and using the two sets ofrefrigerator tubes 27 an d 28 may be used simultaneously. In that case,the refrigerant drawn 01f by compressor 9 and th refrigerant from thecompressor 30 will meet in the pipe 9 v before entering the highpressure condenser 5."

Instead of drawing off and recompressing the refrigerant vapor in thetubes 27 by compressor 30 and the vapor in the refrigerator tubes 28 bycompressor 9 as described above, the contents of both sets of "tubes canbe drawn on and recompressed by either one of said two compressors. Themanner of doing this will be described later on.

If desired, the combination unit 12 may be eliminated by closingexpansion valve 11 and a valve 33 arranged in pipe 27 adjacent saidunit, the expansion valve 20 in pipe 19, and the valve 34 in pipe 35through which the compressor 14 draws off the refrigerant vapor from therefrigerator tubes 15.

When these valves are closed and the unit 12 is eliminated, therefrigerant vapor in the refrigerator tubes 28* of the refrigerator 26will be drawn off through the pipe 36 by the compressor 9, and will berecompressed by said com- 28 must be open. The valves 51 and 52 in pipes3'7 and 37 and valve 53 in pipe 28 must be closed, and thereby thecircuit between the compressor 9, the condenser 13, and refrigerator 26is completed. I

When, as mentioned above, the combination unit 12 is eliminated, arefrigerant circuit may be established and used between the compressor30, the high pressure condenser 5, and the refrigerator tubes 27 of therefrigerator 26. To accomplish this, the valves 54 and 55 in the pipeline 31, the valves 56 and 57 in the pipe line 32, valve.58 in pipe 9valve 59 in pipe 10, valves 60 and 61 in pipe 62, and the expansionvalve 63 must be open, while the valve 64 in pipe 65 which connects thepipe 31 with the pipe 36, the valve 51 in pipe 37, the valve 66 in thebypath 67 connecting pipes 9 and 10, the valve 68 in pipe 27, and thevalve 53 in pipe 28 must be closed.

When, as stated above, either one of the two compressors 9 or 30 is tobe used in connection with the two sets of refrigerator tubes 27 and 28of the refrigerator 26, it is only necessary to open or close some ofthe above mentioned valves. If, for instance, the compressor 9 is to beused, the valve 55 in pipe line 31 is closed,

while the valves 54, 64,38, 39, and 40 are open.

If, however, the compressor 30 is to be used, the valve 39 is to beclosed, and the valves 38, 54, 64 and 55 are to be open.

The bypath 67,-connecting the pipe 9 and the pipe 10 may be used, ifdesired, to eliminate the high pressure condenser 5. To accomplish this,the valves 58, 59, and 60 must be closed, while the valve 66 must beopen. By eliminating the high pressure condenser, power is saved,because the resistance in the high pressure condenser isremoved. Thebypaths, however, should only be utilized after the temperature and thesuction pressure in the double refrigerator 26 have been lowered.

If desired, the double refrigerator 26 may be eliminated, and then thecombination condenser and refrigerator 12 may be used as a doublerefrigerator in connection with the two fresh water condensers 5 and 13respectively. In order to do this, the tubes 21 in the combination tank12 mustbe emptied, and this is done in the following manner: Theexpansion valve 11 and the valves 54, 68, 49; and '42 are closed. Thebypath 69 leading from pipe 27 to pipe 31 is then opened, and the liquidrefrigerant in the condenser tubes 21 is drawn off and recompressed bymeans of the compressor 30 and goes to the following pipe line: pipe 27,bypath 69, pipe 31, compressor 30, pipe 32, pipe 9, high pressurecondenser 5, pipe 10, pipe 62, p pes 2'7 and 28. A part of saidrefrigerant enters the refrigerator'tu'oes 27 through the expansionvalve 63, the other portion enters the refrigerator tubes 28 through theexpansion valve 29. The latter part is drawn off and recompressed bycompressor 9 and returned to the condenser 5. The first part is cooledand liquefied by the last mentioned part, and collected in therefrigerator tubes 27from where it cannot escape, since the valve 54 isclosed. In this manner, the condenser pipes 21 are emptied. 15

sure condenser 5 evaporates in these tubes. The

refrigerant vapor in the tubes 21 is drawn off and .recompressed andreturned to the condenser 5 by compressor 30 through the bypath 69 andthe pipes 32 and 9 In this manner, both sets of tubes in the tank 12 arebeing used as refrigerator tor 26 at a low temperature.

tubes, and said tank is actually acting as a double refrigerator asillustrated in Fig. 5.

A heat carrying medium may be conducted either from the doublerefrigerator 26 or from the combination unit 12 through a cooling room'70 by any suitably and conveniently laid out pipe line. For instance,if the unit is used as a combination refrigerator and condenser, a brinesolution can be forced by means of a brine pump "71 through a pipe '72into and through the cooling room '70 and from there through pipes 73and '74, combination tank 12 pipe 75, the double refrigerator 26, andthe pipef76 back to the pump '71.

.By conducting the brine through this pipe line,

the brine coming from the cooling room will be cooled in the combinationunit 12 so that the brine solution will return to the double refrigera-While the brine solution flows throughunit 12, it will be cooled by therefrigerant in the refrigerator tubes 15. The refrigerator tubes 2'7 ofthe double refrigerator 26 which are shown in Figure 4 as extendingvertically are preferably arranged at a distance from each other greaterthan the distance between the horizontally extending refrigerator tubes28*, thereby a rectangular opening is obtained between adjacent andcrosswise extending refrigerator tubes, and these openings are adaptedto receive refrigerator pans which will be surrounded entirely byrefrigerator tubes so that liquid in these refrigerator pans may befrozen solidly in a comparatively short time.

Recapitulating, it will be; evident that the plant is capable ofnumerous adjustments to satisfy widely varying operating conditions.

Thus, the units 5 and 12 may be utilized in series, or the unit 5 may beeliminated by means of the by-pass line 6'7. Similarly, the unit 12 maybe eliminated by means of the by-pass line 62. If desired, part of theliquid refrigerant from the condenser 5 may pass through the by-passline 62 and the remaining portion may be directed through the unit 12 tothe line 27.

Regardless of how the units 5 and 12 are connected in the plant, eitheror both of the elements 27 and 28 in the double refrigerator may beutilized. "For the spent gases from the refrigerator 26, either or bothof the compressors 9 and 30 may be employed. 1

The two water cooled condensers 5 and 13 may be connected respectivelyin single stage systems with either of the units 12 and 26 as therefrigerator. The manner in which the condensers 5 and 13 may beincorporated in two single stage systems jointly utilizing the doublerefrigerator 26 will be evident from Figs. 1 and 6. One circuit proceedsfrom the condenser5 through the lines 10, 62 and 2'7, the expansionvalve 63, the tubes 2'7 the line 31, the compressor 30 and the lines 32and 9 back to the condenser. The other circuit proceeds from thecondenser 13 through the lines 19, and 28, the expansion valve 29,

the tubes 28-, the line 36, the compressor 9 and the lines 3'7, 3'7 and3'7 back to the condenser. Utilization of two single stage systems withthe condensers 5 and 13 for cooling the unit 12, which in this caseconstitutes a double refrigerator, is specifically illustrated in Fig.5.

All of the foregoing. arrangements are possible in the plant asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 6. Fig. I

1 shows the plant as adapted for the cooling of brine or otherequivalent medium. Fig. 6 differs in that it illustrates the plant asadapted for the quick freezing of ice or other commodity in therefrigerator 26.

The plant may also be adapted for the cooling of'liquid refrigerantforoutside use. Such arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 7. wherein therefrigerant is compressed in either or both of the compressors 9 and 30,then condensed in 5 and further cooled in 12 or, if directed through theby-pass 67, condensed in the unit 12 which is cooled by expandingrefrigerant; The cold liquid refrigerant may be taken on through theline 27 for outside use. .Additional refrigerant may be supplied to theplant through the line 69.

Fig. 8 illustrates the plant as adapted for the cooling of the workingrefrigerant to a very low temperature for outside use, for. example as apreliminary step in the production of solid CO2 (dry ice) Liquidrefrigerant from the condenser 5 and the unit 12 enters the line 27 andthen splits, one portion being vaporized in the tubes 28, and the otherportion passing through the fully, opened valve 63 into the tubes 2'7where it is further cooled by the vapor in the tubes 28 Where the plantis to be employed for the purpose just mentioned, a closed circuit isemployed in which ammonia is used as a refrigerant, this circuitinvolving the'unit 12, compressor 14, condenser l3 and expansion valve20 arranged in series; this cycle being employed for cooling the unit 12which constitutes the carbon dioxide cooling element. temperature comingfrom cooler 12- passes through conduit 2'? which communicates withcooling unit 26. Conduit 2'? is provided with a branch line 28 whichcommunicates withthe refrigerator tubes located in the cooling unit 26and pipe 28 is provided with an expansion valve 29. A portion of the lowtemperature carbon dioxide flowing through conduit 27 enters the unit 26through the open'valve 63 while another portion passes through theexpansion valve 29. The cooled liquid refrigerant from unit 26 may betaken off for outside use through conduit 31, as disclosed in Figure 8,while the low, temperature exhaust in the refrigerator tubes may betaken off from unit 26 by compressor 9 and directed by connection 41into by-pass 67 from whence it is'directed into cooler 12. Additionalgases may be taken in on the suction side of compressor 30 and directedby means of conduit 32 into the fresh water condenser 5, thence intocooler The cooled carbon dioxide of low 12, or by means ofconduit 67into cooler 12,

where the additional gas is made to mingle with the exhaust. Anysuitable pressure, either high or low, may be employed. If desired, therefrigerant from thecondenser 13 may be split,

where the system is to be used for refrigerating purposes only, one partgoing to the unit 12 through line 19 and the other part passing The coldliquid refrigerant from the additional refrigerant may be supplied tothe plant at the inlet of the compressor 30 and then to the condenser 5.The gaseous refrigerant from the tubes 28 is recompressed. Therefrigerant in the tubes 28 is drawn off by the compressor 9 and may bedirected either to the condenser 5' or to the by-pass line 6'7 through aconnection 41' between the lines 37 and 6'7.

It will be understood that any suitable refrigerants may be employed inthe plant. Thus, ammonia alone or carbon dioxide alone or both indifferent stages of the plant, depending on the results to beaccomplished, may be used. If the entire plant is in operation and it isdesired to produce lower temperature in the combination unit 12, a partof the refrigerant coming from the condenser tubes inunit 12 whichpasses through pipes 27 and 28, to double refrigerator -26, may be ledthrough pipe 50 (which is connected with pipe 28) to the junction withpipe 19 and allowed to mingle with the liquid refrigerant coming fromcondenser 13, before passing through expansion valve 20. Thevaporized.refrigerant is drawn from the refrigerator tubes in unit 12 bycompressor 14 and returned to the fresh water cooled condensers 13 and5. The refrigerant vaporized in double refrigerator 26 is returned tothe fresh water condenser 5 by either compressor 9 or 30 or both.

The fresh water cooled condenser 13 may 'be disconnected from the systemand liquid refrigerant from the pipe 28 may be returned to unit 12 inthe same manner as heretofore defined. In this event only the part ofthe refrigerant returned as just described is vaporized by expansionvalve 20 in the refrigerator tubes in unit 12 and the exhaust is drawnoff by compressor 14 and returned to the fresh water cooled condenser 5by means of pipe lines 37*, 37 and 9 it being understood that valve 44and valve 47 under these conditions are closed and valves 34, 43, 42,4'7 and 49 must be open.

If desired condenser 13, compressors 30 and 9 may be disconnected, andliquid refrigerant from unit 12 may be expanded by expansion valve 63into one path of the double refrigerator 26, the exhaust then directedby means of pipe line 31 and 65 into the other path of said refrigeratorunit and valve 38 used to drop the suction pressure, the exhaust beingmade to flow in counterdirection to its usual flow and returned throughopen expansion valve 29 into pipe 28, by-pass 50, through expansionvalve 20 through a second path in unit 12 to compressor 14 and by meansof pipe line 3'7 to 9 and thence into condenser 5 and into cooler 12.

In order to have the refrigerant fiow through the circuit justdescribed, it will be understood that valves 53, 55, .39, 41, 57, 47 and44 must be closed, as must also valves 60 and 61.

Having described my invention and how the same is to be used, I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a multiple quick acting refrigerator plant, a compressor, a highpressure condenser; a low pressure and low temperature condenser, a pipeconnecting said two condensers, an expansion valve adjacent the entranceof the low pressure and low temperature condenser, a refrigerator, apipe connecting the low pressure condenser with the refrigerator, anexpansion valve adjacent the entrance of the refrigerator, a pipeconnecting the refrigerator with the compressor, a pipe connecting thecompressor with the high pressure condenser, and a closed refrigeratorcycle, in-

eluding a compressor, a condrnser, an expansion valve and a refrigeratoradapted to cool the low temperature and low pressure condenser.

, 2. In a multiple quick acting refrigerator plant a double refrigeratorcontaining two sets of refrigerator tubes, each set of said tubes beingthe refrigerator tubes of a closed refrigerating cycle, each cycleincluding a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve, said cyclespermitting the use of different refrigerants, and means for leading afluid medium through said double refrigerator.

3. In a multiple quick acting refrigerator plant a high pressurecondenser, a combination refrigerator and condenser tank, a set of lowcondenser tubes in said combination tank, a pipe connecting the highpressure condenser with the low pressure condenser, an expansion valveadjacent the entrance of the low pressure condensing tubes, a doublerefrigerator, two sets of refrigerator tubes arranged in saidrefrigerator, a pipe connecting the outlet of the low condenser tubes ofthe combination tank with one of the sets of the refrigerator tubes inthe double refrigerator, and 'another pipe line branching off said pipeand communicating with the entrance end of the other set of refrigeratortubes of the double refrigerator, a compressor for each set ofrefrigerator tubes to draw off and recompress the refrigerant in thecorresponding set of refrigerator tubes and a pipe line connecting eachof said compressors with the entrance end of the high pressurecondenser.

4. In a multiple quick acting refrigerator plant a high pressurecondenser, a combination refrigerator and low pressure condenser, a pipeconmeeting the outlet end of the high pressure condenser with the inletof the low pressure condenser tubes, an expansion valve in said pipeadjacent the inlet of the low pressure condensing tubes, a doublerefrigerator, two sets of refrigerator tubes arranged in said doublerefrigerator, a pipe connecting the outlet -of the low condensingtubesin the combination tank with the inlet of one of the sets of therefrigerator tubes in the double refrigerator, an expansion valve inthis pipe adjacent inlet of said set of refrigerator tubes, a branch.pipe leading from said pipe to the inlet of the second set ofrefrigerator tubes in the double refrigerator, an expansion valve insaid branch pipe adjacent to inlet of the second set of refrigeratortubes, a compressor, a pipe connecting said compressor with the outletend of the first set of refrigerator tubes, another pipe connecting thecompressor with the inlet of the high pressure condenser, a secondcompressor adapted to draw off the refrigerant vapor of the second setof refrigerator tubes, a pipe connecting said second compressor with thepipe connecting the first compressor and the inlet of the high pressurecondenser, abypath leading around the high pressure condenser andconnecting the inlet pipe of the high pressure condenser with the pipeconnecting the high pressure and the low pressure condenser, a shut-offvalve in the inlet pipe of the high pressure condenser arranged betweenthe inlet to said condenser and the junction of the bypath with theinlet pipe, and a second shut-off valve in the pipe connecting the twocondensers and located between the junction of the bypath with the saidconnecting pipe and the outlet of the high pressure condenser.

5. In a multiple quick acting refrigerator plant a high pressurecondenser, a combination tank back to the double refrigerator, and apump containing a set of low pressure and low temperature condensertubes, a pipe connecting the high pressure condenser with the lowpressure condenser tubes, an expansion valve in said pipe adjacent theinlet of the low pressure condenser tubes, a double refrigerator, twosets of refrigerator elements in said refrigerator, a pipe connectingthe outlet of the low pressure and low temperature condenser tubes withthe inlet of one of the sets of the refrigerator elements, an expansionvalve in said pipe line adjacent the inlet of the first set ofrefrigerator tubes, a pipe branching off from the pipe which connectsthe outlet of thelow pressure condenser with the inlet of the first setof efrigerator elements, said branch leading into th inlet of the secondset of refrigerator elements, a compressor adapted to draw offand-recompress the refrigerator vapor from the first set of refrigeratorelements, a pipe connecting said compressor with the outlet of the firstsetof refrigerator elements, another pipe connecting said compressorwith the inlet of the high pressure condenser, a second compressor, apipe connecting the outlet of the second set of refrigerator elementswith said compressor, another pipe connecting the second compressor withthe pipe leading into the inlet-of the high pressure condenser, a pipeconnecting the two pipes leading from the outlets of the two sets ofrefrigerator elements and arranged before the-two compressors, and ashut-off valve in each of said-pipes behind the junction with theconnecting pipe. i v

6. In a multiple quick acting refrigerator plant a high pressurecondenser, a set of low pressure condenser tubes, a combinationrefrigerator and condenser tank containing said condenser tubes, a pipeconnecting the outlet of the high pressure condenser and the inlet ofthe low pressure condenser, an expansion valve in said pipe adjacent thelow pressure condenser, a fresh water cooled condenser, a set ofrefrigerator pipes arranged in the combination condenser andrefrigerator tank, a compressor adapted to draw offrefrigerant vaporfrom the refrigerator pipes, recompress the same and force it into thefresh water cooled condenser, a pipe line connecting the outlet of saidcondenser with the inlet of the refrigerator pipes, an expansion valvein said pipe line adjacent the said inlet, a double refrigerator, twosets of refrigerator tubes arranged in said refrigerator,

a pipe line connecting the low pressure and low temperature "condensertubes with the inlet of the first set of refrigerator tubes in thedouble refrigerator, an expansion valve in said pipe line" ,pressor withthe corresponding refrigerator tubes, another pipe line leading from thecompressor to the high pressure condenser, a further pipe connecting thethird compressor with the corresponding refrigerator pipes, a pipeconnecting the third compressor with the pipe leading from the secondcompressor to the high pressure condenser, a cooling room, pipe linesleading from adapted to circulate a heat carrying medium through saidpipe lines, said cooling room, said refrigerator and condenser tank andsaid' double refrigerator.

7. In a multiple quick acting refrigerator plant a high pressure watercooled condenser, a double refrigerator, two sets of refrigerator tubesin said refrigerator, a pipe connecting the inlet of the first set ofsaid tubes with the outlet of the condenser, a compressor, a pipeconnecting the outlet of said tubes with said compressor, another pipeconnecting the compressor with the inlet of the condenser, a secondfresh water cooled condenser, a pipe line connecting the outlet of thiscondenser with the inlet of the second set of refrigerator tubes, asecond compressor, a pipe connecting said compressor with the outlet ofthe second set ofrefrigerator tubes, and another pipe line leading fromthe second compressor to the second fresh water cooled condenser.

8. In a multiple quick acting refrigerator plant a fresh water cooledcondenser, a combination condenser and refrigerator tank, a set ofrefrigerator tubes in said tank, a pipe line connecting the outlet ofthe fresh water cooled condenser with the inlet of the refrigeratortubes, a compressor, a pipe connecting the outlet of the refrigeratortubes with the compressor, another .pipe leading from the compressor tothe inlet of the fresh water cooled condenser, a high pressure freshwater cooled condenser, a set of low with the inlet of the second set ofthe refrigerator tubes in the double refrigerator, an expansion valve insaid pipe adjacent the inlet of the said first set of refrigeratortubes, a second expansion valve in the branch pipe adjacent the inlet ofthe second set of refrigerator tubes, a second compressor, a pipeconnecting the outlet of the first set of refrigerator tubes in thedouble refrigerator with the second compressor, another pipe leadingfrom the second compressor to the inlet of the high pressure condenser,a third compressor, a pipe connecting said thirdcompressor with theoutlet of the second set of refrigerator tubes in the doublerefrigerator, another pipe leading from the third compressor to theinlet of the high pressure condenser, a valve interrupting thecommunication between the high pressure condenser and the low pressurecondenser, a valve interrupting the connection between the firstcompressor and the outlet of the refrigerator tubes in the combinationtank, a valve preventing refrigerant from flowing out of the lowpressure condenser tubes, the expansion valve adjacent the inlet oftherefrigerator tubes in the combination tank being adapted to beclosed, thereby making it possible to eliminate all the tubes in thecombination tank, a pipe connecting the expansion valve adjacent theinlet of the first set of tubes in the double refrigerator with theoutlet of the high pressure condenser, and another pipe line connectingthe outlet of the first fresh water condenser withthe expansion valveadjacent the second set of refrigerator tubes in the doublerefrigerator.

9. In a multiple quick acting refrigerator plant 'a fresh water cooledcondenser, a set of refrigerator tubes in a combination refrigerator andcondenser tank, a compressor, a pipe connecting the outlet of saidrefrigerator tubes with the compressor and a pipe leading from saidcompressor at the inlet of the water cooled condenser, a doublerefrigerator, two sets of refrigerator tubes in said doublerefrigerator, a high pressure condenser, a set of low pressure condensertubes in the combination tank, a pipe connecting the high pressurecondenser with the low pressure condenser, an expansion valve in saidpipe adjacent the inlet of the low pressure condenser, a pipe connectingthe outlet of the low pressure condenser with the inlet of the first setof refrigerator tubes in the double refrigerator, a branch pipeconnecting this pipe with the inlet of the second set of refrigeratortubes in the double refrigerator, a second compressor, a pipe connectingsaid compressor with the outlet of the first set of refrigerator tubesin the double refrigerator, another pipe leading from this compressor tothe inlet of the high pressure condenser, a third compressor, a pipeconnecting this compressor with the second set of refrigerator tubes inthe double refrigerator, a further pipe connecting the last namedcompressor with the inlet of the high pressure condenser, a valveadapted to interrupt the communication between the second compressor andthe outlet of the first set of refrigerator tubes in the doublerefrigerator, another valve adapted to prevent communication between thethird compressor and the second set of refrigerator tubes in the doublerefrigerator, the two expansion valves adjacent the refrigerator tubesin the double refrigerator being adapted to be closed so that the tubesin said double refrigerator are adapted to be eliminated, a pipe adaptedto be connected with the low pressure condenser pipes in the combinationtank and with one of the compressors adapted to be connected with one ofthe sets of refrigerator tubes in the double refrigerator.

10. A refrigerator system comprising, in combination, a closed circuitincluding a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and arefrigerator connected in series in the order named, a second closedcircuit including a'compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and arefrigerator connected in series in the order named, and means defininga refrigerator chamber, each refrigerator comprising inlet and dischargemanifolds and a plurality of tubes connecting said manifolds, the tubesof said respective refrigerators being located in said chamber andextending crosswise of each oth r in intermingled relation.

11. A refrigerator comprising, in combination, a closed circuitincluding a condenser, said circuit having a primary path and asecondary path and selectively available, said primary path inbluding anexpansion valve, a primary refrigerator and a compressor in series, saidsecondary path including an expansion valve, a secondary refrigeratoranda compressor in series, and a second closed circuit including said firstmen second primary path including an expansionvalve, a second primaryrefrigerator element connected with said compressors, said secondsecondary path including an expansion valve, a second secondaryrefrigerator element and a compressor in series, said primaryrefrigerator elements being incorporated in a refrigerator unit, saidsecondary refrigerator elements being incorporated in anotherrefrigerator unit, wherebyboth units may be combinedly operated orwhereby either of said units with two cooling circuits is selectivelyavailable.

12. A refrigerator system comprising, in combination, a condenser, aconduit for liquid refrigerant operatively connected to the discharge ofsaid condenser, a refrigerator unit having two independent refrigeratorelements, said conduit having two discharge branches connectedrespectively to the inlets of said elements, two expansion valves oneinterposed in each of said branches, a conduit for refrigerant vaporconnected to the inlet of said condenser, said last mentioned conduithaving two inlet branches connected respectively to the discharge endsof said elements, two compressors interposed respectively in said inletbranches, two stop valves interposed respectively in said inlet branchesat the inlet sides of said compressors, and a bypass conduit including astop valve for connecting said inlet branches at the inlet sides of saidfirst mentioned valves, whereby either or both of said compressors maybe connected in the circuit.

13. A refrigerator system comprising, in combination, a water cooledcondenser, a condenser and liquid cooler unit, a conduit connecting saidcondenser and said unit, a closed circuit including a refrigerator, acompressor, a water cooled condenser and an expansion valve connected inseries in the order named, said refrigerator being arranged in heatexchange relation to said unit, a liquid discharge conduit opening fromsaid unit, a refrigerator unit having two separate refrigeratorelements, said discharge conduit having two branches connectedrespectively to the inlets of said elements, two expansion valves oneinterposed in each of said branches, a conduit for vapor refrigerant forconnecting the discharge ends of said elements to the inletof said firstmentioned. condenser, compressor means in said last mentioned conduit,and means whereby the compressed refrigerant may be directly conveyed tothecondenser and liquid cooler unit.

14. A refrigerator system comprising, incombination, a water cooledcondenser, a condenser and liquid cooler unit, a conduit connecting saidcondenser and said unit, a closed circuit including 130 a refrigerator,a compressor, a water cooled condenser and an expansion valve connectedin series in the order named, said refrigerator being arranged in heatexchange relation to said unit,

a liquid discharge conduit opening from said unit, 135 a refrigeratorunit having two separate refrigerator elements, said discharge conduithaving two branches connected respectively to the inlets of saidelements, two expansion valves one interposed in each of said branches,a conduit for and liquid cooler unit, a conduit connecting saidcondenser and said unit, a closed circuit including a refrigerator, acompressor, a water cooled condenser and an expansion valve connected inseries in the order named, said refrigerator being arranged in heatexchange relation to said unit, a liquid discharge conduit opening fromsaid unit, a refrigerator unit having two separate refrigeratorelements, said discharge conduit having two branches connectedrespectively to the inlets of said elements, two expansion valves oneinterposed in each of said branches, a conduit for vapor refrigerantconnected to the inlet of said first mentioned condenser, said lastmentioned conduit having inlet branches connected respectively to saidelements, two compressors interposed respectively in said inletbranches, and a by-pass conduit including a stop valve for connectingsaid last mentioned conduit to said first mentioned conduit.

16. A refrigerator system comprising, in combination, a primarycondenser, a condenser and liquid cooler unit, a conduit connecting saidcondenser and said unit, two valves in said conduit, a closed circuitincluding a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and arefrigerator, said refrigerator being arranged in heat exchange relationto said unit, a refrigerator unit having a refrigerator element, adischarge conduit connecting said element to said first mentioned unit,an expansion valve in said discharge conduit, a conduit connecting theoutlet of said element to said primary condenser, a compressorinterposed in said last mentioned conduit,'a stop valve interposed insaid last mentioned conduit between said primary condenser and saidcompressor, a bypass conduit including a stop valve connecting saidfirst mentioned conduit at a point between said first mentioned valvesto said discharge conquit, and a by-pass conduit including a stop valveconnecting said last mentioned conduit at a point between saidcompressor and said second menseries in the order named, saidrefrigerator being arranged in heat exchange relation to said unit, aliquid discharge conduit opening from said unit, a refrigeratorconnected to said discharge conduit, an expansion valve in saiddischarge conduit, a conduit for refrigerant vapor connecting saidrefrigerator to said first mentioned condenser, a compressor in saidlast mentioned conduit, and means whereby a medium may be circulatedthrough said unit for outside use.

18. A refrigerator system comprising, in combination, a water cooledcondenser, a liquid cooler, a refrigerating circuit for cooling saidcooler, a conduit connecting said condenser and said cooler, arefrigerator, a cooling room, means for circulating a cooling mediumfrom said cooling room through said cooler and said refrigerator back tosaid room, a conduit for liquid refrigerant connecting the outlet ofsaid cooler to said refrigerator, an expansion valve in said lastmentioned conduit, a conduit for vapor refrigerant connecting saidrefrigerator to the inlet of said condenser, a compressor in said lastmentioned conduit, a by-pass conduit for connecting said first mentionedconduit to said second mentioned conduit at the inlet side of saidexpansion valve, and a stop valve in said by-pass conduit.

19. A refrigerator system comprising, in combination, a water cooledcondenser, a conduit for vapor refrigerant connected to the inlet ofsaid condenser, a compressor in said conduit, 2 liquid cooler unit, aconduit connecting said condenser and said unit, said unit including acooling element connected to said last mentioned conduit, a passage fora liquid medium to be'cooled and a refrigerating element in heatexchange relation to said cooling element and the liquid medium, and aclosed circuit including said refrigerating element, a compressor, awater cooled condenser, and an expansion valve connected in series,whereby cold liquid medium from said passage and liquid refrigerant fromsaid cooling element are available for outside use.

20. A refrigerator system comprising, in combination, a water cooledcondenser, a conduit for vapor refrigerant connected to the inlet ofsaid condenser, a compressor in said conduit, a stop valve in saidconduit between said condenser and said compressor, a condenser andliquid cooler unit, a conduit connecting said condenser and said unit, astop valve in said last mentioned conduit, a by-pass conduit forconnecting said first mentioned conduit at a point between saidcompressor and said first mentioned stop valve to said last mentionedconduit'at a point between said last mentioned stop valve and said unit,a stop valve in said by-pass conduit, said unit comprising a coolingelement connected to said second mentioned conduit, and a refrigeratorelement in heat exchange relation with said cooling element, and aclosed circuit including said refrigerator element, a compressor, acondenser, and an expansion valve connected in series.

21. A refrigerator system comprising, in combination, a Water cooledcondenser, a liquid cooler, a conduit connecting said condenser and saidcooler, a cooling circuit including a refrigerator, a compressor, acondenser, and an expansion valve connected in closed series, saidrefrigerator being arranged in heat exchange relation to said cooler, asecond cooler having a cooling element and a refrigerator element inheat exchange relation, a conduit for liquid refrigerant connected tothe outlet of said first mentioned cooler, said last mentioned conduithaving two discharge branches connected respectively to the inlets ofsaid elements, an expansion valve interposed at the inlet of saidrefrigerator element, a suction conduit connecting the outlet of saidrefrigerator element to the inlet of said water cooler condenser, and acompressor in said last mentioned conduit, said suction conduit havingan inlet branch at the inlet side of said compressor for the supply ofrefrigerant, whereby a portion of the liquid refrigerant from said firstmentioned cooler is utilized to further cool another portion of saidliquid refrigerant available for outside use from said 'cooling element.a

22. The process of refrigeration which comprises compressing arefrigerant vapor of low boiling point, condensing the compressedrefrigerant by the use of fresh water as the cooling medium, cooling theliquid refrigerant by the use of a cold vaporized refrigerant of higherboiling point as a second cooling medium, vaporizing a portion of theliquid refrigerant, and utilizing said vaporized portion as a thirdcooling mediumto further cool the remainingportion of the liquidrefrigerant for outside use.

23. The process of refrigeration which compriseseirculati'ng arefrigerant through a closed path and in the course of circulationsuccessively compressing, condensing and vaporizing byexpansion saidrefrigerant, compressinga second refrigerant, utilizing the vaporizedrefrigerant to condense said second refrigerant, vaporizing a portion ofsaid first refrigerant by expansion, and utilizing the vaporized portionof said first refrigerant to further cool another portion of said firstrefrigerant.

24. In a refrigerator system, a housing defining a chamber, tworefrigerator elements located in said housing, a compressor, acondenser, and an expansion valve connectedwvith each of said ele-'ments to form two closed 'efrigerating circuits and each circuit workingwith a'different refrigerant, said two circuits being operable singly orjointly.

25. In a condensing and cooling system of the character described forlow temperature work comprising, in combination, a water cooledcondenser, a conduit for a fluid medium connected to said condenser, acombined refrigerator and condenser unit, a conduit connecting saidfirst condenser and said unit, a second combined refrigerator andcondenser unit, a conduit for connecting said units, a discharge conduitfor the cooled medium connected to said second unit, a secondwaterccoled condenser, a discharge conduit connecting said second watercooled condenser with said first mentioned unit, an expansion valve insaid last mentioned discharge conduit, a by-pass conduit connecting saidlast mentioned discharge conduit and said second mentioned unit, anexpansion valve beyond said by-pass, a conduit for vapor refrigerantconnecting said first mentioned unit with said second mentionedcondenser, and a compressor inserted in said conduit, a second conduitfor refrigerant vapor connecting said second mentioned unit and saidsecond mentioned condenser, a compressor inserted in said conduit, andmeans for conducting a medium to be cooled through said first mentionedcondenser, said first mentioned unit, and said second mentioned unitwhereby said cooled medium may be discharged.

26. In a condensing and cooling system of the character described forlow temperature work comprising, in combination, a water cooledcondenser, a fluid medium conveying conduit connected to said condenser,a combined refrigerator and cooler unit involving a housing providedwith independent controllable. passages for the refrigerant medium andmediums to be cooled, a conduit between the condenser and said unit, asecond combined refrigerator and cooler unit involving a housingprovided with independent controllable passages, a discharge conduit forthe last mentioned unit, a conduit for connecting one 'of the fluidmedium passages of the two units, means for introducing the separatemediums to be cooled into both of said units, a closed refrigeratingcircuit involving the refrigerator of the first mentioned unit, acompressor, a condenser and an expansion valve arranged in series, abypass for conveying a portion of the discharged refrigerant from saidlast mentioned condenser to the refrigerator passage of the second unit,an ex-' pansion valve adjacent to said refrigerator passage, and adischarge conduit leading from said last mentioned refrigerator passageto said second mentioned condenser and a compressor inserted in saidconduit, the cooling passages of both of said units being provided withseparate controllable inlets and outlets.

2'7. In a multiple stage refrigerating system employing two differentrefrigerants, a double refrigerator unit with two closed separaterefrigerating passages and a free passage for leading a medium to becooled through said refrigerator unit, two compressors, two condensers,and two expansion valves connected with the double refrigerator unit ina prearranged manner to provide two closed refrigerating circuits whichmay be singly or jointly operated.

28. In a condensing and cooling system of the character described, forlow temperature work, a primary condenser, a'primary cooler, and asecondary cooler, a closed refrigerating circuit, for cooling theprimary cooler, consisting of a compressor, a condenser, an expansionvalve and a primary refrigerator, a second closed refrigerating circuitfor cooling said secondary cooler, consisting of a compressor, said lastmentioned condenser, an expansion valve, and a secondary refrigerator, acontrollable discharge from the secondary cooler, said primary coolerand said pri-- mary refrigerator being juxtaposed and in heat exchangerelation with each other, and incorporated in a closed housing, saidsecondary cooler and said secondary refrigerator being juxtaposed and inheat exchange relation with each other and incorporated 'in a housing,and means for conducting a medium to be condensed and cooled throughsaid primary condenser, said primary cooler, and said secondary cooler.

29. A refrigerator comprising, in combination a closed circuit,including two condensers, said circuit having 'a primary path and asecondary path, said 'primary'path including an expansion valve,refrigerator elements and a compressor in series, said secondary pathincluding an expansion valve, refrigerator elements and a compressor inseries, and a second closed circuit including said condensers, saidsecond circuit having a second primary path and a second secondary pathand selectively available, said second primary path including anexpansion valve, a second pri-' mary refrigerator element and one ofsaid mentioned compressors in series, said second secondary pathincluding an expansion valve, a second secondary refrigerator elementand a compressor in series, the refrigerator elements of the firstcircuit being incorporated in a refrigerator unit, the refrigeratorelements of the second circuit being incorporated in anotherrefrigerator unit, whereby either one or both of said units with twocooling circuits is available.

30. In a multiple refrigerating plant having two condensers, a combinedrefrigerator and liquid cooler unit, a plurality of expansion valves,and a plurality of compressors and a refrigerator and a cooling roominterconnected to form a plurality of refrigerating circuits, the methodof refrigerating which consists of expanding and vaporizing'a liquidrefrigerant from one of said condensers in the combined refrigerator andliquid I crease the efiiciency of said unit, recompress the expanded andvaporized refrigerants and returning the same back to the condensers toliquefy the same again, leading a medium to be cooled in therefrigerator and liquid cooler unit to inthrough said refrigerator toabstract heat therefrom, utilizing the cooled medium to cool saidcooling room, passing the medium from said cool ing room first throughsaid mentioned refrigerator and cooler unit to abstract heat from saidmedium and then returning the same to the refrigerator to further coolsaid medium.

31. In a multiple refrigerating system for low temperature and quickfreezing work having a condenser, a triple passage cooler unit, aconduit connecting said condenser and said unit, a closed refrigeratingcircuit consisting of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve andone of said passages of said cooler unit to expand a refrigerant thereinto refrigerate said cooler unit, a double refrigerator, a liquidrefrigerant discharge conduit connecting said cooler unit and saiddouble refrigerator, a second discharge conduit connecting said firstmentioned condenser and said first mentioned discharge conduit in orderto mingle the liquid refrigerant from said discharge conduits beforeentering said double refrigerator, two discharge conduits connecting therefrigerator with the first mentioned condenser, and compressor meansinserted in said last mentioned discharge conduits, a cooling room, pipelines connecting said triple passage unit, said double refrigerator andsaid cooling room, and means for circulating the cooling medium in aclosed cycle through said cooling room, said triple passage cooler unitand said double refrigerator.

32. In a multiple refrigerating system for low temperature and quickfreezing work having a condenser, a triple passage cooler unit, aconduit connecting said condenser and said unit, a closed refrigeratingcircuit consisting of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve andone of said passages of said triple passage cooler unit to expand arefrigerant therein, to refrigerate said cooler unit; a doublerefrigerator, a liquid refrigerant discharge conduit connecting saidcooler unit and said double refrigerator, a second discharge conduitconnecting said first mentioned condenser and said first mentioneddischarge conduit in order to mingle the liquid refrigerant from sa'discharge conduits before entering said doub e refrigerator, twodischarge conduits connecting the refrigerator with the first mentionedcondenser, compressor means inserted in said last mentioned dischargeconduits, pipe lines connecting said triple passage cooler unit and saiddouble refrigerator, an means for leading a medium to be cooled thr ughsaid cooler unit and said double refrigerator.

33. In a multiple refrigerator plant, the combination of a compressor,a'condenser, a liquid cooler, a double refrigerator unit, expansionmeans for said unit, pipe lines connecting said elements in the ordernamed, connections between the double refrigerator, means whereby therefrigerant vapor from its first path through said double refrigeratoris directed through the second path in said double refrigerator and saidexhaust thence directed through said liquid cooler and drawn from saidliquid cooler by said compressor and thence returned to said condenser.

34. A process of refrigeration which consists in expanding a liquidrefrigerant in one path of a double refrigerator unit, leading theexhaust with a drop in pressure through the second path of condenserbefore expansion,

said double refrigerator unit, expanding the exhaust from the secondpath with an additional drop in pressure into a liquid cooler to precoolthe initially incoming refrigerant, recompressing the gaseousrefrigerant and reliquefying the same.

35. A multiple quick acting refrigerator plant, comprising a watercooled condenser; a combined gas and liquid cooler having separatepaths, a double refrigerator unit, a compressor, an expansion valve atthe inlet of one of the refrigerator elements of said double unit,controllable pipe lines between the liquid discharge end of the combinedgas and liquid cooler and the inlet of one of the refrigerator elementsof said double refrigerator unit, connections between the discharge endof the first mentioned element of the double refrigerator unit and thesecond element of said unit, a by-pass between the discharge end of saidsecond element and the inlet of the second path in said combined gas andliquid cooler, in combination with a closed circuit involving said firstmentioned compressor, a second condenser, an expansion valve and thesecond mentioned path in the combined gas and liquid cooler whereby theexhaust from the refrigerator is mingled with the expanded liquidrefrigerant from said last mentioned second condenser before expandingthe gas in said combined gas and liquid cooler, and means whereby theexhaust from the combined gas and liquid cooler is returned to the firstmentioned condenser and to said second mentioned condenser.

36, In a multiple quick acting refrigerating plant, the process ofrefrigerating which consists in expanding a condensed liquid refrigerantin a chamber having a multiple of paths, compressing and condensing asecond refrigerant, cooling the second refrigerant in one of the pathsin said chamber to a low temperature, expanding the low temperatureliquid refrigerant in a refrigerator, commingling and expanding a partof the second low temperature liquid refrigerant with the firstmentioned liquid refrigerant to increase the efficiency in the firstpath and recompressing the expanded refrigerants and recondensing thesame, leading a medium in contact with the second refrigerant path,utilizing the cooled medium for outside use and then passing said mediumthrough another path in said chamb-r to precool the medium and thenreturning the same into contact with the second mentioned lowtemperature refrigerant path to further cool said medium.

3'7. In a refrigerator system of the character described, a primarycondenser, a secondary condenser and a refrigerator, arranged in aclosed circuit, means intermediate of the primary condenser and thesecondary condenser whereby a portion of the refrigerant issuing fromthe pri-- mary condenser may be conveyed to the inlet of therefrigerator and commingled with the portion of refrigerant issuing fromthe secondary forming a part of a closed refrigeration circuit, saidlast mentioned circuit being adapted to abstract heat from the firstmentioned circuit, and means whereby the refrigerants are caused tocirculate through said circuits.

AUGUST SCHWARZ.

a. third condenser

